The Register's Editorial: Anti-abortion effort a blow to rural Iowa

12:33 AM,
Jul. 27, 2013

Dr. Tom Ross, who works for Planned Parenthood, demonstrates the agency's telemedicine system from an office near downtown Des Moines. On his computer screen, he can see Planned Parenthood manager Kat Frink,who is sitting in front of a computer terminal at another Planned Parenthood clinic. If she were a patient seeking a medical abortion, Ross would interview her, then push a button on his computer. That command would open a drawer in front of the patient, who would take two pill bottles from the drawer. While the doctor watched, she then would take one of the pills, which would begin the abortion process. She would be instructed on how to take the other pills later to complete the abortion at home. (Tony Leys/The Register)

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The Register?s Editorial Board

In their latest effort, advocates of limiting a woman's access to a legal abortion delivered a petition to the Iowa Board of Medicine recently asking for a change in rules to end so-called webcam abortions.

In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drug regimen commonly known as RU-486 to terminate a pregnancy without surgery. For a growing number of women, it is the best and safest option. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland set up a system to help women living in rural Iowa obtain the drug.

After undergoing an exam in their location, they use a videoconferencing system to talk ...